Hollow reinforced-concrete lumber.



J. HIGKSON.

HOLLOW RBINFOBGED CONCRETE LUMBBR.

Attorneys l ILIJ;

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13, 1913.

cnLUMBlA PLANOGRAIH C0., WASHINGTON, D. c.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented J an. 20, 1914.

J. HICKSON.

HOLLOW REINFORGBD CONCRETE LUMBER.

AIPLIOATIONIILED MAY 13, 1913.

Attorneys n] il 0.56m w [bl nventor COLUMBIA FLNDRAPH CD.. WASHINGTON. D. C.

Witnesses JOSEPH HICKSON,

OF MOUNT GILEAD, OHIO.

HOLLOW REINFORCED-CONCRETE LUMBER.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 20, 1914.

Application led May 13, 1913. Serial No. 767,413.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOSEPH HrcKsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mount Gilead, in the county of Morrow and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Hollow Reinforced Concrete Lumber, of which the following is a specication.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is a slab of reinforced concrete, adapted to be used to form the side boards of a fence, to form a fence post, as a railroad tie, as the floor or ceiling of a building, and under any and all circumstances in which a piece of wood of like shape and :dimensions may be employed.

One object of the present invention is to provide a slab of the type described which is reinforced in a novel manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a slab which may be interengaged with another slab of like sort to provide a longitudinal opening in which conductor wires, pipes and the like may be mounted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a slab which may be handled and shipped without danger of breaking.

The invention aims, further, to provide a monolithic fence of novel form.

It is within the scope of the invention to provide a novel form of monolithic fence post.

The invention aims to improve generally and to increase the utility of, devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction herein after described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings z-Figure l shows in side elevation, a portion of a fence constructed in accordance with the present invention, parts being broken away; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is a vertical longitudinal section of the fence post; Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the fence post; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of one of the slabs; Fig. 6 is a transverse section of one of the slabs; Fig. 7 is a perspective of the reinforcing element which is inserted into the slab; Figs. 8 and 9 are end elevations showing slight modifications in details of the invention; Fig. 10 1s an elevation showing the slab in use as a fence post; and Fig. 11 is an elevation showing the slab in use as a railroad tie.

In carrying out the invention, so far as the fence is concerned, there is provided a post 1 equipped in its lower end with an v opening 2 which extends upwardly to a point adjacent the top of the post 1, the post, however, in its upper end being solid and imperforate. The post 1 preferably although not necessarily is of hexagonal form anl tapers from its base toward its upper en The post 1 is provided with upright slots 3 which communicate with the opening 2. There may be any number of these slots 3 and they may be fashioned in the post at any angle with respect to each other. Embedded in the post 1, which is fashioned from concrete, and located adjacent the top and the bottom of the post, and at other locations if desired, are reinforcing rings 4, connected b v upright ties 5.

Into the slots 3 in the posts 1 are inserted the ends of superposed slabs 6, which are fashioned from concrete. The upper edge of the uppermost slab 6 may be crowned by an angle member 7, and a similar angle member may be placed beneath the lower edge of the lowermost slab.

The lower edge of the lowermost slab 6 may be spaced apart from the surface of the ground, if desired, or, as shown in Fig. 1, the lowermost slab may be placed close to the surface of the ground. When the parts are arranged as shown in Fig. 1, should the ground freeze and heave, the slabs 6 will move upwardly in the slots 3, without displacing the post 1, a slight space being permitted to exist between the upper edge of the uppermost slab 6 and the top of the slot 3.

In the longitudinal edges of the slabs 6 there are recesses 8 and when two slabs 6 are placed edge to edge, the recesses 8 cooperate to define an opening 9, as will be understood best from Fig. 2. Through these openings 9 pipes, conductor wires or the like may be passed, it being thus possible to house these elements within the contour of the fence. The recesses 8 may be of any desired form or shape, and may be of any size. The slabs 6 are provided with transverse openings 10, communicating With the recesses 8. In these openings 10 may be mounted tie bolts 11, for the purpose of holding the slabs together', as clearly shown in F ig 2. Although the use of the tie bolts 11 is not absolutely necessary, in a fence construction, the tie bolts may be used to advantage under other conditions, and by ivay of illustration, the slabs in the fence construction have been shown as connected in the manner above indicated.

The recesses 8 in the edges of the slabs serve to define thinned. Wings 12 along the longitudinal edges of the slabs. The Wings 12 upon one side of each slab are grooved as indicated at 14, the Wings upon the opposite portion of the slab being provided with tongue 15, adapted to register in the grooves 14. A secure, interlocking joint is thus afforded, and if desired, cement may be placed in the grooves 14.

The slabs G are provided upon their side faces With outstanding panels 1G. lVhen the slabs are piled upon each other, during shipment, or when the slabs, in construction,

are laid with their broader faces in contact, the panels 1G serve to space the thinned Wings 12 apart, and thus prevent the Wings from being chipped or broken.

The slabs are reinforced by a st-ructure which is shoivn in Fig. 7. This reinforcing structure comprises end plates 17 and an intermediate plate 18. But one intermediate plate 18 is shown, but more intermediate plates may be employed if desired. The slab 6 is ordinarily ten feet or more in length, t-he end plates 17 being embedded in the slab adjacent the ends of the slab, and the plate 18 occupying a position intermediate the ends of the slab. All of the plates 17 and 18 are provided with centrally disposed bonding openings 19, through which the concrete is adapted to coalesce. At their ends, the plates 17 and 18 are notched as indicated at 20, to define tapered lingers 21. Rods 22 are passed through the fingers 21. The rods 22 and the fingers 21 lie in the thinned Wings 12 of the slabs 6, upon opposite sides of the recesses 8, and thus the Wings 12 are reinforced. Other reinforcing rods 23 are provided, the ends of the rods 23 being engaged in the end plates 17, and the intermediate portions of the rods 23 being extended through the intermediate plate 18. Between the plates 17 and 18, the rods 23 are disposed in intersecting relation.

In Fig. 9, a pair of intersecting corner members 24 are provided, the same being constructed in accordance with the present invention. The corner members 24 are provided With outstanding panels 25, as above described, the corner members being halved together, as indicated at 27.

Referring to Fig. 8, one of the slabs 6 above described, is shown in intersecting relation With respect to a member 28, constructed in accordance with the present invention, the member 28 being provided with grooves 29, adapted to receive the Wings 12, the member 28 being equipped with a rib 30, located between the grooves 29 and adapted to iit in the recess 8 of the member 6.

The slabs (S may be set up endwise in the ground, in spaced relation, to serve as fence posts. (Fig. 10.) Under such conditions, the Wires lV of the fence may be passed through the openings 10. The slabs G may be laid fiat upon the ground, so as to serve as a rail road tie. (Fig. 11.) The panels 16 may be ornamented in any desired manner. It is entirely obvious, that the rods 22 and 28 may extend beyond the ends of the slabs 6 for bonding purposes and the like. The reinforcing structure shown in Fig. 7 is, of course, embedded in the product during the'process of formation, the reinforcing structure, ordinarily, being placed in the mold, and the plastic material being poured around the reinforcing structure. Although the slabs 6 have been shown as straight, they may, obviously, be curved or of any other form. The slabs, placed edge to edge, may be employed as a flooring, as a ceiling, in the formation of a Wall, or under any other circumstances which Will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. The reinforcing structure shown in Fig. 7 is so fashioned that electric Welding and like operations may be dispensed With. Should occasion demand, screw openings may be molded into the slabs 6 at any desired points. The slabs G, owing to their outline, Will not exceed greatly in Weight, slabs of like dimensions formed from green lumber.

Referring to Fig. 1, it is obvious that if desired, the loivermost slab G may be permitted to enter the ground to a greater or less extent, the post 1 being lowered accorde ingly. The panels 16 may be formed upon one or both sides of the slabs, as may be found expedient. Threaded openings may be molded into the slabs, at any desired point, to receive screiv anchors.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A concrete building' slab provided in its longitudinal edges With recesses defining thinned Wings along the longitudinal edges of the slab; and reinforcing plates embedded in the slab, transversely of the same, the plates comprising ngers extended into the Wings.

2. A concrete building slab provided in its longitudinal edges with recesses defining thinned Wings; plates mounted in the slab 'transversely of the same and including fingers projecting into Wings; and reinforcing rods connected With the plates, the rods in intersecting relation between the intermelying in the Wings.

3. A concrete building slab provided in its longitudinal edges with recesses deining thinned Wings; end plates and an intermediate plate mounted in the slab, the plates comprising fingers extended into the Wings; rods located in the ingers and lying in the Wings; and other rods connected With the 10 plates, the last specified rods being disposed diate plate and the end plates.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.'

JOSEPH HICKSON.

Vitnesses C. C. VANNATTA, C. Gr. LEITER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

